NORCAL has amazing surfing. Even within SF, you can go to Ocean Beach, which can have amazing surf. Youre also a short drive from some amazing surf spots that are just an hour or two south of the city.

Also, not sure how good of a surfer you are, but Mavericks is pretty gnarly. Most ppl don't just go paddle out in that if they don't have experience w/ other world class breaks. If you're going to surf Mavs you should be able to hold your breath for close to two minutes.

The water in Norcal is cold, but you wear a thick wetsuit and get used to it.

I would say the best GOOD school close to GOOD surfing is Berkeley. If you can't get in there, go to USC/UCLA. Anything lower isn't worth it, and anything not in Cali isn't worth it for surfing. Good luck.

Nah not anymore. I live in Austin now actually so have found other things. Just got back from 2 weeks in Hawaii though my buddies who are still in SF posted some videos of OB the last couple weeks, and it was huge. I wasn't too jealous with my 80F water in Oahu though..

If you wanna surf every day go UCI/USD. Both within +/- 10 mins of great waves (River Jetties/Huntington/Bolsa Chica at UCI and Sunset Cliffs/South Mission/Blacks etc. in SD). Living anywhere else its unrealistic you will make it out IMO. Not sure how into it you are but the surf industry is firmly headquartered in SD/OC area so if it was something you were going to try and get into permanently I guess you would be proximal at either school. Obviously prestige is the sacrifice. How many $$$s do you love surfing?